You may think I meant to say, Dark Dreary Swamps! But of course I didn’t!
Because swamps are very beautiful and teaming with life.
(you’re seeing reflections in most of these!)
I think swamps get a ‘bad rap’ and it’s hard to really show the beauty of the swamps we visit in Blue Run Park in Dunnellon, FL.
They ARE dark so the camera has trouble penetrating and focusing on the beauty.
The water is dark…
the vegetation is lush…
the trees are gorgeous….
especially the Cypress trees!
And all kinds of birds and critters live there.
We always see Ibis in the swamps.
And when we’re lucky we see Wood ducks.
Aren’t they beautiful!
The whole family swam out to greet us.
Or maybe we should say, stayed in the shadows!
According to Wikipedia HERE…
“Florida swamps include a variety of wetland habitats. Because of its high water table, substantial rainfall, and often flat geography, the U.S. state of Florida has a proliferation of swamp areas, some of them unique to the state. A swamp is a wetland that is forested.”
Duckweed has such a small petal that it can sometimes look like ‘slime’ but it is a very pretty delicate plant that carpets the swamp in places.
In this photo the green looks like grass but it is Duckweed growing just on the surface of the water.
And yes…
sometimes when you look closely you see something ALIVE right below the surface!
Look out BELOW!!!
Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing photos of the swamp and a few of it’s inhabitants!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
39 comments:
I love love love the ducks. I would go weekly to see just them. The cypress trees are so pretty too.
Swamos are pretty but they do make me a bit anxious. What is lurking in those waters???? A perfect Halloween week post.
Hello, the swamps are filled with wonderful wildlife. I love the wood ducks and the pretty Ibis. The gators are cool but I hope the ducks stay safe. Great series of the swamp habitat. Beautiful photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
I love the ducks and just seeing the cypress trees...it is a different kind of beauty.
I agree 100 percent that swamps are beautiful. have not seen one in a few years and I do love them. excellent shot of he gator and love all the reflections. the first photo of the wood duck is beautiful. I first saw a wood duck in 2006, I had never seen one and freaked out when I saw several of them. my friend is a bird watcher and told me what it was. I said why would they call a spectacular duck a wood duck... I remember the year because I bought a camera just like hers and started wandering in the woods with her
What a unique environment! You captured the wildlife beautifully.
Love the swamp photos. I love the reflections and patterns the light makes!
Oh my! You are so brave! Is that an alligator???
The ducks are so sweet, innocently floating along. I'm with you - I want to shout look out below, watch out! Be safe little creatures of God. All are precious in His sight!
Thank you for sharing these lovely photos... You captured all it's beauty so well!
Blessings, Net
Hello! Great post and wonderful pictures from the swamp!
Great captures of the adorable Wood Ducks and the alligator! I hope the ducks are safe!
Thank you for sharing and for visiting my post! Have a lovely weekend!
Dimi...
Those Wood Ducks are very good looking ducks. Love the Iibis too.
...those ducks are gorgeous, the gater I'll pass on. It you have your hip boots on?
I like your play on words. Yes, I see the swamps as dark and dreamy with all the species of birds to be found there. I would have a great time and even enjoy seeing the alligators - I think.
lots of treasure to find, I am headed out again todeay. i spent yesterday in a wetland, but no gators in Iowa.
You came 'cross lots of cool critters on this hike!
lovely but scary with those eyes just peeping out of the water
Cathy
How fortunate you are to live near a swamp with all those beautiful creatures. Those wood ducks are beyond gorgeous!
Looks beautiful in the swamp. Wow love those wood ducks. They look made of wood!!
Great photos and very fun descriptions!! I actually thought of you when we visited the Circle B Bar Reserve last week.
What great photographs you've shared here. They really show the variety of critters that inhabit the swamps.
Wonderful …
All the best Jan
Love the birds, the trees, the water, the mysteriousness of it all because just there...lurks a monster. How were you getting these photos? It looked as if you were on the water.
Wasn't expecting to see that scary beast in the water :)
Who Knew what beauty was waiting in the swamp - the croc would scare me to death!
Hello. Wonderful serie of photos! Thank you.
Never in my wildest dreams did I EVER think that I would ever go near a swamp....much less ENJOY photographing them!!---ha ha ha LOL---but I do! There is so much to see there, and like you said, so much life. Very pretty things to find, you just have to take the time and know what you are looking for. I've seen beautiful flowers in swamps here, that surprised me! Hope you're having a great weekend my friend and you cracked me up with your comment about the skeleton, ha ha LOL
I rarely see Wood Ducks here, so seeing your photos was a special treat for me. I could do without the alligator though!
There is a beauty to swamps, isn't there? They can be kind of scary (especially below water) but also fun to explore. I especially love cypress swamps.
I hope you aren't "swamped" with work today and can enjoy the day. xo Diana
I have seen two wood ducks in my 14 yrs. Of birding. And so far away...no good photo. I TOO love swamps!
I'm running a bit late visiting this weekend since I spent about 5 hours in the ER with heart issues. Thanks for sharing your post!
Awesome shots of the swamp. L9ve the pictures of the ducks
Such lovely, yes, dreamy photos. We just had a bit of snow.
We live on the edge of a wetland. I love it!
Wow! Swamps may be one part of nature I rather just look at in pictures though. But the wood ducks were just gorgeous.
Ps...Diane, thanks so much for your prayers & well wishes!
I think Swamps are so amazing. Wisconsin has a different kind of swamp. My parents have one on their property. I will have to blog it someday.
I love swamps...we have Bald Cypress growing in areas like what you have shared here in Kentucky and they team with wildlife. Oh those Wood Ducks and Alligators, oh my that could be a problem. Lovely shares. Take care, happy week~
I agree swamps can be mysterious and a little scary - but it's so worth it, as your post shows. Just keep your eyes open and don't go in the water. LOL.
swamps are lovely if you don't have to wade through them and get tangled with the critters! But the ducks etc are lovely to watch. Have a fabulous week.
Those wood ducks are beautiful! I love swamps but I don't want to go in them as there are poisonous snakes and 'critters' that aren't friendly.
an interesting take on and view of the swamps. if the wood ducks hang out there, i am all in!! beautiful pictures all the way around and so nice to see an ibis, i don't see them around here!!
That duck with the green head is so pretty. He has different colors all over him, and look at the detail on his feathers. Yikes, I hope that creature didn't get any of the ducks. I enjoyed these pictures, Diane, they were interesting. : )
~Sheri
The birds are so sweet, Diane, but YIKES! I hope they didn't get eaten up!
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